‘NCIS’: Are Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo Still Friends?
Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly have several things in common — both are successful actors with lengthy, varied careers, and both starred on one of television’s most popular procedural dramas: NCIS. Their characters on the show were involved in an epic love story that, ultimately, had a tragic ending — but fans have never forgotten their chemistry, and still hold out hope for seeing them together on-screen at some point. Many viewers have also wondered if the two share the same relationship off-screen as they did on screen — and the answer isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.
How long did Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly work together?
De Pablo was one of the original stars of NCIS, with her character, Ziva David, being first introduced to viewers in 2005. As Special Agent David, de Pablo was able to bring resilience, intelligence, and depth to the character, and she became an immediate fan-favorite.
De Pablo was a mainstay on the show for years, until finally announcing her departure from NCIS in 2013. Her recent, highly-publicized return to the show has been one of the biggest stories on television, and a major entertainment event.
As for Weatherly, he dates back even further in NCIS history than does de Pablo. He was cast on the show in 2003, as a senior field agent named Tony DiNozzo. As a frequent partner for Gibbs, DiNozzo often acted as the charming rogue, utilizing his sense of humor to lighten many a dark mood.
Sadly, Weatherly left the show in 2016 to pursue other opportunities. Although he has enjoyed great success in his other ventures, including the popular TV show Bull, many fans still know and love him best as Tony DiNozzo.
Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly enjoyed great chemistry
In a show that thrives on character dynamics, de Pablo and Weatherly enjoyed one of the richest story arcs in NCIS history. Beginning as co-workers, the characters of Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo gradually transitioned into a “will they-won’t they” relationship. Viewers loved their chemistry and spent many an evening dissecting what could happen next for the pair.
Eventually, after nine seasons of camaraderie and teasing, David and DiNozzo got together. Sadly, their newfound love affair didn’t last long, and de Pablo left the show before their romance could be explored any further.
Still, there could be hope for fans of Ziva and Tony’s story. Some reports indicate that the two could end up reuniting in some fashion in a future season.
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo have a new joint project
Even if Weatherly and de Pablo haven’t shared the screen in some time, it seems as though they are still on very good terms. Many news reports state that the two never actually dated in real life and have been able to maintain their status as friends for well over a decade now, even though de Pablo did once claim that they enjoyed an “immediate attraction.”
Weatherly told Deadline that while the two got off on the wrong foot during a screen test, they ended up becoming friends.
“I remember so vividly the screen test with Cote,” he said. “She just loathed me instantly — and I mean Michael Weatherly — but we quickly became very close friends.”
What’s more, when Weatherly departed from the series, de Pablo showed up at the viewing party to support her co-star and friend. “Cote de Pablo showed up at the end and that was great to reunite with her,” Weatherly told E! News at the time. “Yeah, it was a beautiful night.”
For fans of the two, some exciting news was unveiled in late 2018 — reports claim that Weatherly and de Pablo will be co-producing a brand-new series together, titled MIA. Although the two will reportedly not be starring in the series and will remain strictly behind the scenes for the project, it certainly seems as though Weatherly and de Pablo love working with each other. NCIS fans can rest easy knowing that with these two, there is no drama and nothing but love.
